■ KENYA: Embraer to open an Authorized Service Facility in Nairobi with Kenya Airways in 2013.

Embraer, the Brazilian regional aircraft manufacturer, has set its sights on Nairobi, Kenya and partner Kenya Airways (KQ) as a potential base for its first Authorized Aircraft Service Facility (AASF) in Africa to be opened in early 2013.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Group SAA finally releases its 2011/2012 Financials; records USD163.2million operating loss.

South African Airways (SA) has at long last, released its financial report for the Financial Year 2011/2012 ending 31 March 2012. In its brief, signed off by the airline's previous board, the carrier reported an operating loss of USD163.2million (ZAR1.3billion) despite its total revenue being up six percent on the previous year. Overall, the group posted a ZAR32million Total comprehensive loss.

► CAMEROON: Turkish Airlines to start 4x weekly Yaounde, Douala flights from late December.

Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced another route into Central/West Africa; this time to Cameroon. The Turkish carrier, which recently celebrated adding its 200th aircraft to its ever growing fleet, will serve the cities of Yaounde and Douala 4x weekly with a Boeing 737-900ER effective 21 December 2012.

● SOUTH AFRICA: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) warns of looming strike.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has given notice of an impending strike by members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) set for tomorrow Monday 25 November 2012.

 

●● SOUTH AFRICA: All set for the 44th AFRAA General Assembly to be held from 18-20 November in Johannesburg.

[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is set to convene its 44th Annual General Assembly slated for the 18th – 20th November 2012, and to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa's commercial hub, Johannesburg. 

►► OMAN: Ethiopian increases Muscat frequency from late November on.

Ethiopian Airlines will from 27 November 2012 increase its Addis Ababa – Muscat, Oman flights from the current 3/4x weekly, to daily. The flight is operated with a Boeing 737-700.

►► CAMEROON: Arik Air to start Lagos - Douala from late August.

[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] Nigerian private carrier Arik Air (W3), is to launch a 3x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) service between Lagos, Nigeria and Douala, Cameroon using a Boeing 737-700, starting Thursday 30 August 2012.

►► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia issues next round of updates as Strike persists.

Due to the increasing length of the previous post, a new one has been started to cover the latest update on Air Namibia's (SW) on-going  NAPA industrial action.

■ TUNISIA: Royal Luxemburg Soparfi SA set to invest in unnamed Tunisian carrier shortly.

Italo-Luxembourger financial holding company, Royal Luxemburg Soparfi SA, are set to invest in an as-yet undisclosed Tunisian airline. Exact details on the deal are still murky at this stage.

● ANGOLA: TAAG, Pimentel Araújo elected to Chairmanship of AFRAA.

Linhas Aéreas de Angola better known as TAAG Angolan Airlines (DT) were this week elected to the chairmanship of the Executive Committee of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), during their recently ended 44th Annual General Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian announces 787 route changes to Johannesburg & Dubai for December.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) continues to adjust its Boeing 787 operations with changes for the month of December 2012 as follows:

■ ALGERIA: Construction of new Terminal at Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport set to begin in 2014.

The Algerian government has forged ahead with its previously mentioned plans of transforming Houari Boumediene International Airport in the Algerian capital, Algiers, into an international hub. In an interview with Algerian paper Tout sur l'Algérie, the airport's CEO Tahar Allache allured to a new terminal to be built by 2018 and which will accommodate 10 million passengers per year, in addition to extra-wide-bodies such as the Airbus A380.

► NIGERIA: Aero Contractors to start daily Abuja-Calabar flights from December.

Nigerian airline, Aero Contractors (AJ), will from 1 December 2012, commence daily Boeing 737-500 flights between Abuja and the south eastern city of Calabar, Cross River State.

► LIBYA: Tunisair goes Sfax - Tripoli, Benghazi from April 2013.

Fresh from announcing better pax uptake and stronger financials for November 2012, Tunisair (TU) will, starting 2 April 2013, expand its Boeing 737-600 operations from the Tunisian city of Sfax to Libya.

► SOUTH AFRICA: kulula to start Joburg - East London flights from 2013.

From 1 March 2013, South African LCC, kulula (MN), will launch flights between Johannesburg ORTIA and the coastal Eastern Cape city of East London. The airline says it will operate two return flights a day on the one-hour trip, using its new 189-seater Boeing 737-800. 

►► THAILAND: Ethiopian Airlines boosts Bangkok, Hong Kong flights from late November.

[UPDATE 22 NOVEMBER 2012] Ethiopian Airlines (ET), will from 24 November 2012, increase its Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong 767 operated service from 4x weekly, to daily. As a result, Bangkok will see an increase from 7x to 10x weekly flights.

► TANZANIA: fastjet outlines Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda ops as TCAA grants it full operational approval.

With the first of its fleet of Airbus A319s having now having arrived in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, nascent low-cost carrier fastjet (FN) has been granted  full approval to operate the aircraft  by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA). Its team of 35 pilots, 65 cabin crew and 7 maintenance specialists on the ground actively preparing for launch, the carrier has outlined its regional expansion plans as demand for its flights has totalled to more than 8'000 bookings in their first week on sale.

► LIBYA: See Pic of Air Libya's ARJ100 in their new swanky livery!

As mentioned in our previous post, Air Libya (7Q), the private Libyan carrier formerly known as Tibesti Air Libya, is set to receive its first BAe146-300/ARJ100 (MSN: 3234 | 5A-FLB) in the carrier's new corporate identity and livery.

► MOROCCO: Ryanair to resume London Stansted, Luton - Marrakech from 2013.

Infamous Irish LCC, Ryanair (FR), have confirmed the resumption of two London - Marrakech, Morocco routes to its winter schedule, with 8 weekly flights to/from London Stansted (4 per week) and London Luton (4 per week) from February 2013, as late additions to its winter 2012-13 schedule

► HONG KONG: Air Mauritius to go 3x weekly to Hong Kong from July 2013.

Fresh from last week's announcement of direct Shanghai flights from 2013, Air Mauritius (MK) will from 2 July 2013 add a 3rd weekly flight on its Mauritius – Hong Kong route. The 3rd weekly flight is expected to be maintained into the Northern Winter 2013/14 season as well.